Photo By Sgt. Nicholas Ranum | Marines stationed at Camp Hansen prepare tents for the Hansen Festival at Camp Hansen...... read more read more
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OKINAWA, Japan - Setting up a camp festival is an intensive and time-consuming task for any organization. However, for Marine Corps Community Services, setting up multiple festivals throughout Okinawa is important for the morale of the populace they serve.
The Hansen Festival is one such festival planned for Aug. 18-19 on the parade deck at Camp Hansen.
There will be bounce houses, amusement rides and game booths at the event, according to Andrew P. Menges, the marketing accounts and research manager for MCCS. There will be live entertainment from both local and American performers.
The headlining performance is the Idol World Tour composed of former American Idol contestants, according to Menges. There will also be performances by local artists such as: Eisa group Chijunshu Wakati-da, classic rock band Aki and Buzz Light, the dance troupe Jam Plant and the Ultimate Game Show, a crowd participation activity.
“The entertainers and the other activities at the festival were chosen because they are family friendly,” said Ai Shears, a MCCS entertainment coordinator. “It also gives service members a chance to experience the local culture.”
Music and games will not be the only entertainment option for Hansen Festival visitors. There will also be a hot dog-eating competition, food vendors, and a display featuring several military vehicles.
“The annual hot dog-eating competition will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday,” said Menges. “The vendors will provide festival goers with a variety of food from local favorites (and) traditional American foods like hamburgers and snow cones.”
Coordinators hope the festival will provide a large variety of entertainment options, but also give service members a chance to get together in a family-friendly environment.
The set up takes days to accomplish and months to prepare and would not be possible without support from Camp Hansen personnel.
“The process involves staging of equipment, setting up and retrograding all items back to our warehouse,” said Reginald C. Coy, the MCCS special events program manager. “It takes about 80 hours and about 30 personnel to setup.”
“This event is designed to provide morale and recreation activities for Marines, service members, and family members assigned throughout Okinawa,” said Coy. “It is also to enhance relations with the surrounding community. This event is open to all Status of Forces Agreement and Japanese community members islandwide.”
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2012 03:48 |
| Story ID: | 93305 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marines prepare Hansen for Idol-studded festival, by Sgt Nicholas Ranum, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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